Kathmandu: Kathmandu Gurkhas is fielding against Janakpur Bolts in the inaugural match of the second edition of Nepal Premier League. Winning the toss in the Kirtipur-based TU Cricket Ground, Captain of Kathmandu Gurkhas, Karan KC, decided to bowl first.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Monty Desai of India is the main coach of Kathmandu Gurkhas, having previously served as the main coach of the Nepali National Cricket Team. The Kathmandu Gurkhas team has a diverse lineup, including Gerhard Erasmus of Scotland, Milind Kumar and Sunny Patel of America, Brain Charlesworth and John Simpson of England, and Ricardo Vasconcelos of South Africa. The team also features local players such as Bhim Sarki, Shahab Alam, Rashid Khan, Dipesh Kandel, Pratik Shrestha, Mohammad Adil Alam Ansari, Santosh Yadav, Akash Tripathi, Uttam Thapa Magar, and Tul Bahadur Thapa.
On the other side, Janakpur Bolts is coached by Shiva Narayan Chandrapal of the West Indies. Their foreign player roster includes Imran Tahir and Wayne Parnell of South Africa, Lahiru Milantha of Sri Lanka, Sanjay Krishnamurthi of the USA, and Jan Nicol Loftie Eaton of Namibia. The team is further strengthened by players like Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Kishor Mahato, Rupesh Singh, Tul Bahadur Thapa Magar, Mayan Yadav, Aaditya Mahata, Bikas Aagri, and Sachin Bhatta.
The opening match sets a competitive stage for the league, with both teams showcasing a mix of international talent and local prowess.